A/N: Well, after the…ahem chapter, I guess this one shows up as a little bit bland. Anyway, this chapter will probably make you guys happy, or at least make you happier than you've been because of events in the past chapters.

Chapter 17: Visit from Beyond

Why did this have to happen?

Kiri still thought over the thoughts of Akuto in her head. She couldn't keep the memory of the kiss from popping up in her mind. She remembered the tenderness in his touch, the warmth of his lips. The caring that he showed to her. Even though they fought many times, looking back, she could tell Akuto cherished for from early on, but she had never really noticed how much.

The sun was starting to rise, and Kiri's hair was starting to turn back to its normal silver hue. She closed her eyes that had just turned their golden color. Akuto…why did I let you go?

She remembered his words. "I'm just tired of trying to kid myself into thinking—"

And then she realized.

Kiri gasped, covering her mouth with one hand. Akuto…you meant me…you meant us…

She slammed her hand on the ground in a fist. I'm such a baka! Why did I let him go?

Because now…I realize…I need him…I really need him…

Kiri covered her eyes with her hand, and cringed in pain and depression. How long…? And when?

When did I start falling for him?

I know that I'll never see him again…that I should forget…

But I can't…I just can't…

She glanced behind her at the rising sun. She remembered Akuto's loving embrace when she was pained by the death of her aunt and uncle. How she was comforted when he held her. And how many times she blushed when she was around him. That feeling she didn't understand at the time, but now knew.

Akuto…I'd give anything…to see you again…

But with Kiri's pained thoughts that night, she had failed to notice that Kuro had slipped off.

Just as the sun rose, Kuro awoke to a glorious morning. He was holding the still sleeping Suki in his arms. Her head was tucked under his chin, and he could feel her warm breath on his bare chest. He smiled and kissed the top of her head, stroking her hair.

"Kuro…" she whispered, not opening her eyes.

He bent his head down, and she slightly opened her eyes. They closed just as Kuro kissed her sweetly. "Morning, love." He said, as they parted.

She buried her head in his chest, where she felt safe. It was the only place she could take comfort in, now that everything else was gone. "Soon, we're going to have to get up." She murmured.

Kuro sighed. He didn't want her to leave. He wished they could stay like this forever, all alone in the abandoned hut, away from the world. With their passionate lovemaking, it was easy to forget the world beyond them. He held her closer. "I know."

Suki looked up at him. "But…I don't want to leave here…I wish we could just stay here forever…"

He entwined hands with her, the hands that held their mate mark. Even though Kuro's wounds had healed, the line where he had cut himself remained a white scar, almost identical to the one she held on her left hand. From what he knew, that scar would remain there as long as he lived. "Don't worry." He assured her. "We are mates now; we're one. I'll always be with you, even when we're apart."

She closed her eyes, looking down. "I know, but I think Henka is suspicious…it might be a few days before we see each other again."

"It doesn't matter. I'm not going anywhere." He promised her. "I'll be here, waiting for you."

Suki nodded, as Kuro kissed her passionately again, wrapping his arms around her protectively. As he started kissing her neck, venturing lower to kiss her beneath her collarbone, she had to pull away. "Kuro…I have to go. Yume and Hana might wake up soon…I don't want them to know I was gone all night."

"You're right." He said dejected. "Kiri might wake up soon as well. And I'd might as well take a dip in the river before I go back."

He got up from the bed, and started putting his hakama on, watched by Suki, still under his haori. As he handed her the yellow yukata she had been wearing, she smiled and said, "I love you."

He kissed her one last time, murmuring, "I love you too."

Suki's fears of Henka's suspicion were true. He seemed to keep a closer eye on her than usual, so she wasn't able to sneak off with Kuro often. When she did, the visits were very short. They only got to fully show their love once more, when it had seemed like an eternity since they had become mates.

Since that first night, they had been extra careful. Kuro had made sure to wash more of her scent off, so Kiri wouldn't be able to tell. He didn't want his sister knowing because he knew it would create more problems. But he didn't have to worry, she seemed a lot more distracted lately, and was often lost in thought, something very unusual for her.

He pondered this while he lay on the mattress next to his sleeping mate, underneath the blanket she had managed to bring from the village. Kiri seems a lot different now…she's not as hot headed as she used to be…since she met Akuto…There might be something going on between them…but I can't see Kiri doing that…

His eyes looked at the Tessaiga against the wall, next to the pile of discarded clothes. He sighed. I have killed the shape-shifting youkai, but how come it seems like I still have more to do?

Well, I know about Henka, but it seems like I am forgetting something else? Kuro gazed at the deadly weapon that was once his fathers. Father…if you were here right now, I wouldn't have to do this all on my own…If you all hadn't died, I wouldn't have to be the one to do this…We wouldn't have to be on our own. He glared and made a decision.

He rolled over and stroked Suki's cheek, kissing her once. "I'll be back soon." He whispered, and then got up from the mattress and put on his red hakama. Taking one last look at his beloved in slumber, he picked up the Tessaiga and walked out of the abandoned hut.

He stealthily made his way into the village, careful not to be caught. Keeping to the edge of it, he made his way to the temple, to the line of graves. There were now two more, one for his Aunt Sango, and another one for his Uncle Miroku. It seemed to him that there was a strange smell around this area, but Kuro assumed he must have been smelling the remnants of the plague.

Kuro sat before his father's grave, his black hair swaying in the wind. He held the Tessaiga in his right hand, the sheath seeming to pulse in the presence of its former master. Father, he asked. What am I doing wrong? What am I forgetting? I don't want to do any more fighting, I just want to be in peace with Suki…but yet I have to keep on fighting…Is this how my life is always going to be? Will I ever get to stop fighting?

He stood up and fastened the Tessaiga at his waist, ready to go back, when he spotted something odd in the woods. It couldn't be…he was sure it couldn't be…yet he knew nothing could fool his hanyou eyes. It had seemed that for a second…he had spotted something silver and red running into the woods.

Full of curiosity, he chased after it, marveling at how fast it was. No…it can't be…it just can't…

But then, the thing of mystery stopped in a clearing, and Kuro could see there was a slight blue aura around it. It was shining so bright, that he had to squint and put a hand above his eyes to see clearly. Wait…can it be…

It turned around, and then there was no mistake.

Kuro's heart stopped. Father…

Inuyasha stood there, a ghostly apparition from the world beyond. He looked exactly like he ever had—he still wore the fire rat haori, the kotadoma rosary and a spirit form of Tessaiga at his waist. Unlike Kuro, who was shocked at seeing his deceased father standing in front of him, he folded his arms and looked at his son with disappointment. "Keh, and I thought you couldn't get any stupider."

"F-Father!" Kuro gasped. "What are you—"

"I'm back here trying to help you fix your mistake, runt." Inuyasha said.

Kuro stared. "What are you talking about 'my mistake'?" He had expected his father to at least be happy to see his son, not disappointed and angry.

"I'm talking about spending all your time thinking about your mate rather than getting done what needs to be done." His father glared at him.

Kuro made a fist with his right hand, the hand with his mate mark. So, his father knew. He supposed everyone else knew as well. "Well, Father, it doesn't matter now! Suki and I are mated, and you can't change that!"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "I didn't say anything against it. You can mate whoever you want, I don't care. Your mother and your aunt think its lovely, though." Kuro thought he heard his father mutter something about "women". "But your uncle wants to kill you. And me, too, if I wasn't already dead."

"He already gave us his blessing!" The black haired hanyou defended.

"You know the monk, it doesn't matter if he gave permission, he still wants to kill you."

"Right…" Kuro decided it might be best if he asked Kiri if there was a way to ward off angry spirits. "What do you mean by doing what I'm supposed to do; I already killed the shape-shifting youkai!"

Inuyasha slapped his head. "You have no idea, do you?"

"What?" Kuro demanded, now a bit angry.

"There's more than one youkai out there, you know!" His father said, acting as if this information was blatantly obvious.

Kuro stared. "Wait…you mean…" His heart sunk. "I killed the wrong one?"

"One thing you have to learn, kid, is that there's no point in killing a youkai unless it's after you." His father said, almost wisely.

"So, I have to go find another one?" Kuro asked.

Inuyasha seemed highly annoyed with his son who seemed to take after him in denseness. "You're not getting it, runt. You have to make it come to you."

"But how do I know where it is?" Kuro asked. "I haven't fought youkai all my life, Father! I don't know any of this stuff!" His temper broke free. "Maybe I would have been able to do it you had still been alive, or mother, to help me learn about these things! But you both had to die! Leaving me and Kiri behind before we had learned all we needed! You left us alone when we still needed you! And Uncle Miroku-sama and Aunt Sango-san! They left Suki all alone and now look what happened! IF YOU ALL HADN'T DIED, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED!"

His father just stared as his son burst out in rage. "SO YOU CAN'T BLAME ME FOR WANTING TO HELP HER, OR NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO! YOU CAN'T BLAME ME FOR MATING WITH HER, JUST OFFERING HER SOME COMFORT, OR WANTING TO START A FAMILY WITH HER, BECAUSE SHE'S ALL ALONE NOW! AND WITH HENKA AFTER HER, ALL SHE WANTS IS TO BE WITH ME RATHER THAN HIM! WOULD UNCLE MIROKU-SAMA LIKE THAT BETTER? IF SHE WAS WITH HIM, HUH? SO, FATHER, YOU CAN'T BLAME US FOR ANY OF THIS, BECAUSE IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT FOR DYING!"

After Kuro finished yelling, there was a silence. He panted, still glaring at the spirit of his father. Even though it seemed like so long ago when he died, in truth, it had only been about a month or so. The wounds from his passing were still too deep; still he felt the realization that he was all alone. That was something he could never quite forgive his parents for.

"If I was alive, I'd slap you for that, runt." His father warned. "But, being that it's impossible to do such a thing in this form…"

Kuro cringed. He had heard stories of what angry spirits could do. Even though he felt he was justified in being angry at him, he didn't want to feel the full force of a punishment for his rant.

But, Inuyasha surprised him once again. "Look, kid. We can't help the fact that we died, but let me tell you know, we would have rather remained here, to help you fix your mistakes. And, I don't mean to blame you. It's not easy, you know, not being here to help you with all this stuff. But, you have to do it on your own."

Kuro's eyes looked down. "Father…"

"I guess I don't have to worry too much." The silver haired hanyou said. "After all, Kagome keeps telling me you're smarter than I was…" He muttered more stuff about "women". "If you can kill this thing without causing too much havoc, then you'll make me proud."

His son's eyes brightened up. "Really?"

Inuyasha shrugged. "Yeah, whatever…Oh, and tell your sister that I think it's a good thing she dumped that mangy wolf's son, even if Kagome doesn't…" Inuyasha's face suddenly brightened up. "Maybe I should make a "special" visit to the wimpy wolf…it'll bring back good times…" Light started enveloping him.

"Father…" Kuro whispered as his father disappeared from the clearing.

As he went back to the abandoned hut, he thought over what his father had said. He said he would be proud of me if I killed it…then I have to find it soon…I don't want to let Father down…

When he got back under the blanket of his and Suki's bed, and took his mate back in his arms, he thought, Wait…what did father mean by Kiri 'dumping' Akuto?

A/N: I think Kuro's turning out a bit denser than I originally planned him to be. Anyway, this scene was really hard to write for some reason. I dunno…I guess it was trying to get the emotion into an exposition scene…I hate exposition almost as much as battle scenes. Just give me some good ol' fluff…